HF Podcast: 2012 CHL Top Prospects Game – Tim Bozon, Kamloops Blazers

By Glen Erickson

February 1st, 2012

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Import forward Tim Bozon has quickly become another highly effective WHL player with hockey roots in Switzerland. Born in Lugano, the 18-year-old forward has taken quite nicely to hockey on British Columbia’s interior, anchoring one of the Blazers two high-scoring lines this season.

Bozon, a front runner for WHL Rookie of the Year, leads all first-year players in scoring with 26 goals and 25 assists in 50 games. He skates alongside J.C. Lipon and Colin Smith in Kamloops on a forward line that already includes three 20-goal scorers this year. Bozon’s plus-26 rating is also an eye-catching statistic at this juncture of the season.

Drafted in the first round, 27th overall, by the Blazers at the 2011 CHL Import Draft, Bozon follows in the footsteps of Nino Neiderreiter (NYI) and Sven Baertschi (CGY), two elite Swiss prospects who toiled with the Portland Winterhawks. Prior to their WHL exploits, defenseman Luca Sbisa developed his skills with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Each of these four players with ties to Switzerland have appeared in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game during their junior careers.

Bozon is the son of former NHL forward Phillipe Bozon, who played for the St. Louis Blues. The scouts like what they have seen so far from the youngster, especially his quick release and scoring touch. And if they do not know already, Bozon speaks four languages fluently.

HF spoke with Bozon, in English, prior to the Skills Competition at the CHL Top Prospects Game in Kelowna, British Columbia.